Control device mounting



y 25, 1967 E. P. SELINDER CONTROL DEVICE MOUNTING Filed Aug. 16, 1965INVENTOR. RIC R E LINDER ATTORNEY; K

United States Patent "ice 3,332,648 CONTROL DEVICE MOUNTING Eric P.Selinder, San Pedro, Calif, assignor to Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis,Minn a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 479,851 4Claims. (Cl. 248-27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting arrangementfor a control device, particularly one that can be snapped into place,requiring no separate fastening means.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention a thermostat ismounted on the sheet metal housing of a space heater by means ofcooperating portions of the thermostat frame and of a panel forming partof the housing. Portions of the mounting means also cooperate withadjusting means for the thermostat to indicate the setting selected andto limit movement of the adjusting means.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a control point adjusting dial for a control devicetogether with a cooperating pointer extending through a panel, 7

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but with the dial removed.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is aside view of the device in a position preliminary toattachment to the panel.

As seen in the drawing, a panel may be part of an enclosure for a gasfired space heater. A thermostat 11 having a rectangular housing 12 ismounted on the panel 10 in a position where an adjusting knob 14 will beaccessible from outside the enclosure. The invention lies in thearrangement for fastening the thermostat to the panel.

The thermostat housing is provided with a mounting bracket 16 having aflat central portion 17 spaced from and parallel to a flat surface ofthe housing, and offset end portions 18 and 19 lying along the fiatsurface of the housing. The flat central portion 17 is held against thepanel 10 in part by two ears 21 and 22 struck up from an intermediatepart of the bracket, and in part by a finger 25 struck up from thebracket 16 beyond its end portion 19.

The thermostat 11 has an adjusting shaft 27 which extends from housing12 and through an opening 28 in the bracket 16. The opening 28 has anupper portion 28a that is concentric with the shaft 27 and a lowerportion 28b from which the material for ears 21 and 22 was punched.

The ears 21 and 22 extend radially with respect to the adjusting shaft27 and are notched at their outer edges to hook on the panel 10 at theedge of a circular hole 30. Conveniently, the hole 30 is concentric withthe adjusting shaft 27 and has a diameter greater than the distancebetween the outer extremities of ears 21 and 22 to facilitate mountingthe thermostat on the panel.

The finger 25 which extends from the upper end of bracket 16 engages anedge of panel 10 formed by the upper edge of a circular hole 34. Part ofthe upper surface of the finger 25 has a cylindrical surface thatconforms to the hole 34, but a raised detent 25a is provided on thefinger to engage the outer edge of the hole to hold the bracket inposition against the panel. The finger 25 also extends outwardly beyondthe detent portions 25a and is tapered to form a pointer 25b that servesas anindex to cooperate with indicia on the knob 14 which is carried onthe adjusting shaft 27.

FIGURE 4 shows how the thermostat is attached to the just enter the hole34. To move the thermostat counterclockwise with the ears 21 and 22fixing the pivotal axis,

the finger 25 is deflected to permit the detent portion 25a to pass tothe outer side of the panel. The finger 25 is sufiiciently resilient toassume the position shown in FIG- URE 3 after being forced intoengagement with the panel.

The adjusting shaft 27 is generally cylindrical but has a flat surface27a at its outer end to prevent rotation of the knob 36 with respect tothe shaft. Also carried on the shaft 27 is snap ring 38 that is hookedonto the flat portion of the shaft and has a radial abutment portion 38aadapted to cooperate with the ears 21 and 22 to limit rotation ofadjusting shaft 27 and knob 14 to the desired range for adjustment ofthe thermostat, as shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be seen that the construction illustrated provides a thermostatmounting that is both inexpensive and Very convenient in use in that notools or loose fastening means are needed. The configuration of themounting bracket not only spaces the thermostat from the mounting panelto provide good air circulation but permits the thermostat'to be tiltedwith respect to the panel during the mounting procedure. Additionally,this spacing permits the upper mounting finger to have sufficient lengthto give enough resilience for the deflection necessary to snap thethermostat into place on the panel. The mounting bracket also providesthe additional functions of serving as a pointer for the adjusting dialand of providing stops to limit dial rotation.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting arrangement for a control device comprising: a panel ofgenerally flat configuration having two spaced circular holes therein, acontrol device having a frame to which mounting means is secured, saidmounting means including a spaced pair of hooks shaped to engage theedge of said panel at one of said openings at points spaced equaldistances from a line connecting the centers of the holes in said panel,and including a resilient finger having. a detent portion engaging theedge of said panel at the other of said openings on the line connectingthe centers of the holes, and further including a flat abutment surfaceengaging the panel between the two holes.

2. A mounting arrangement for a control device comprising: a panel ofgenerally fiat configuration having two spaced holes therein one ofwhich is circular, a control device having a frame with mounting meansintegral therewith, said mounting means including a pair of hooksengaging an edge of said panel defined by the circular hole, and furtherincluding a resilient finger having a detent portion engaging an edge ofsaid panel within the other hole, said two hooks being equally spacedfrom said finger, said control device having an adjusti'hg shaftextending therefrom through the circular hole in said panel, and anabutment on said shaft cooperating with said hooks to limit rotation ofsaid shaft.

3. A mounting arrangement for a control device comprising: a panel ofgenerally flat configuration having two spaced holes therein one ofwhich is circular, a control device having a frame with mounting meansintegral therewith, said mounting means including a pair of hooksengaging an edge of said panel defined by the circular hole, and furtherincluding a resilient finger having a detent portion engaging an edge ofsaid panel within the other hole, said two books being equally spacedfrom said finger, said control device having an adjusting shaftextending therefrom through the circular hole in said panel, a dial onsaid shaft having indicia thereon, cooperating with said finger actingas an index.

4. A mounting for a control device comprising, a panel of generally fiatconfiguration having at least one opening Patented July 25, 1967 3therein providing a pair of oppositely disposed panel edges, ReferencesCited a control device having a frame with mounting means inte- UNITEDSTATES PATENTS gral therewith, said mounting means including a pair ofhooks engaging one of said oppositely disposed panel 2146701 2/1939Peterson 248-27 ed es and further includin a resilient fin er having a 52275773 3/1942 Kost 85 80 g 3,222,023 12/1965 Schweitzer 248-225 detentportion engaging the other of said pair of oppositely disposed paneledges, said control device having an ad- ROY FRAZIER Primary Examinerjusting shaft extending therefrom through said panel, and

a dial on said shaft having indicia thereon cooperating CLAUDE LEExaminer .With said finger acting as an index. 10 J. F. FOSS, AssistantExaminer.

1. A MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT FOR A CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING: A PANEL OFGENERALLY FLAT CONFIGURATION HAVING TWO SPACED CIRCULAR HOLES THEREIN, ACONTROL DEVICE HAVING A FRAME TO WHICH MOUNTING MEANS IS SECURED, SAIDMOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A SPACED PAIR OF HOOKS SHAPED TO ENGAGE THEEDGE OF SAID PANEL AT ONE OF SAID OPENINGS AT POINTS SPACED EQUALDISTANCES FROM A LINE CONNECTING THE CENTERS